Are Designer Goods Cheaper in Dubai?
Maybe you’ve been eyeing that beautiful designer bag for months now. In fact, you’ve had dreams of taking it home and displaying it in your closet.
But looking at the price tag, you just can’t seem to justify making the purchase. It’s no secret that these designer brands are more expensive than they’ve ever been!
The good news is that if you’re planning a trip to Dubai, you might be able to purchase your dream designer bag for a lesser price! But are designer goods really cheaper in Dubai? Let’s find out!
Is It Cheaper to Buy Designer Goods in Dubai?
Generally, designer goods are cheaper in Dubai compared to prices in Asian countries. However, if you’re coming from the United States or Europe, the prices are more expensive.
Of course, there are factors that affect the price of a designer item including the type of product, the brand and its origin, and where you’re buying it from.
Designer Goods are Cheaper When They’re Not In Demand
Some designer goods are cheaper in Dubai while some are more expensive depending on the demand for that product in the city.
For instance, the highly-coveted Hermes Birkin or Kelly bag will always be expensive because of its very high demand.
Although it’s almost impossible to score a Birkin or Kelly these days, if you’re lucky enough to be offered one at an Hermes store in Dubai, you should expect to pay a premium for it.
It also goes the same for designer goods that are fresh off the runway or in-season. On the other hand, those that are off-season or don’t have a high demand in Dubai can be cheaper.
Here, we take a closer look at the prices of different types of designer bags:
| Hermes Constance III Mini Shoulder Bag | AED 65,012 |
| Chanel Classic Flap Bag | AED 31,220 |
| Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM Shopper Bag | AED 7,246 |
| Christian Dior Book Tote Small | AED 11,992 |
| Prada Cleo Shoulder Bag | AED 11,492 |
| Bulgari Serpenti Forever Shoulder Bag | AED 13,094 |
| Gucci Ophidia Medium Tote Bag | AED 6,997 |
| YSL Uptown Chain Bag | AED 9,995 |
The general rule here is that the more difficult it is to get hold of a specific designer good, the more likely it is to be expensive, whether you’re buying it in Dubai or not.
A designer good is also more expensive if it’s made from a rare material such as ostrich or crocodile skin, if it’s in a rare color or if it’s part of a limited edition collection.
Designer Goods are Cheaper if They’re Made Near Dubai
Another factor that affects the price of a designer product in Dubai is the city’s proximity to the brand’s main workshop or headquarters.
For instance, Louis Vuitton’s headquarters is located in Paris, France, which is far away from Dubai.
So, aside from the cost of the bag, you also need to factor in custom and shipping costs, which explains why Louis Vuittion is 16% more expensive in Dubai as compared to cities closer to Paris.
So, if you’re planning to buy a Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 bag in Dubai, you should expect to pay AED 4,855. But if you’re buying it in Australia, it would only cost you AED 4,172.
A Gucci Diana Medium Tote Bag would cost you AED 23,338 in Dubai and only AED 21,633 in Australia, which is nearer to France.
You also need to keep in mind that these prices will vary depending on the current exchange rate.
So, if you’re planning to buy a designer product in Dubai, make sure to check the exchange rate first to know if it’s a good time to buy or not.
Designer Goods are Cheaper If You Buy On the Official Store
Since the demand for designer goods is high in Dubai, you’ll find a lot of stores selling these products aside from the official boutiques in malls.
All official stores follow a standard price for designer goods, although Dubai has a 5% tax refund for non-residents.
But if you’re buying from resellers or third-party stores, you can expect to pay more for your purchase.
In this table, we’ll compare the prices of some designer bags when you buy them in store in Dubai and the United States:
| Type of Bag | Dubai | United States |
| Louis Vuitton On the Go GM | AED 13,300 | AED 13,292 |
| Louis Vuitton Side Trunk | AED 14,300 | AED 14,291 |
| Louis Vuitton Diane Satchel | AED 8,950 | AED 8,943 |
| Bulgari Serpenti Cabochon Mini | AED 11,400 | AED 9,094 |
| Bulgari Serpenti Maxi Crossbody Bag | AED 14,400 | AED 14,390 |
| YSL June Box Bag | AED 8,800 | AED 8,796 |
| YSL Hobo Bag | AED 9,000 | AED 8,995 |
| YSL LouLou Small Chain Bag | AED 10,550 | AED 10,545 |
How to Get Good Deals on Designer Goods in Dubai
While there’s not a lot of difference in the price of designer goods in Dubai and other cities in the world, there are ways for you to save some money while shopping in the city.
Shop During the Dubai Shopping Festival
The Dubai Shopping Festival is an annual event where more than 1,500 brands and retailers offer huge discounts and promotions on their products.
This year, the festival will run from 8 December 2023 to 14 January 2024. For 38 days, you can take advantage of huge offers that will allow you to save money on your purchases.
The Dubai Mall is considered the home of the Dubai Shopping Festival and it’s where you’ll find most of the designer and luxury brands in the city.
Some of the participating stores in the mall include:
| Jo Malone | Mugler | Chanel |
| Bloomingdale’s | Acqua di Parma | Le Labo |
| Gallery Lafayette | Penhaligons | Clinique |
| Debenhams | Loewe | MAC |
| Dior | Yves Saint Laurent | Charlotte Tilbury |
You can also shop at the Mall of Emirates or in third-party stores that sell brand new and preloved designer goods.
Shop at the Dubai Outlet Mall
The Dubai Outlet Mall is another great place to shop for designer products at lower prices.
This shopping complex is dedicated solely for outlet stores where brands can sell off-season products at huge discounts.
Here, you can take advantage of discounts of up to 70% no matter what time of the year.
So, if you don’t mind investing in pieces that are not trendy or in season, the Dubai Outlet Mall is the best place to be.
Invest in Pre-loved Designer Pieces
If you want to invest in good quality designer items but you don’t want to pay full price for a brand new product, you can invest in pre-loved pieces through luxury stores in Dubai.
A lot of people buy their first few designer goods pre-loved since it allows them to save money while enjoying the same quality and design that they love.
Here are the best shops in Dubai to buy pre-loved luxury items at good prices:
- The Luxury Closet
The Luxury Closet is arguably the most popular seller of pre-loved designer items in Dubai and the Gulf region.
The company specializes in buying and selling authentic luxury products that are guaranteed to be in near perfect condition.
Here, you can shop for hard-to-find items from brands like Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel.
- Farfetch
Farfetch is known globally for selling brand new designer items. But the company also recently introduced Farfetch Second Life.
This initiative wants to promote sustainable fashion by giving customers the chance to resell preloved designer bags.
Here, you can see a wide selection of designer bags that are up for sale at lower prices.
And if you have any designer bags to sell, you can simply upload photos online and the Farfetch team will pick up the item in your home once it’s approved for sale.
- Vestiaire Collective
Vestiaire Collective is one of the most popular shops that offer excellent deals on preloved luxury items.
Here, you can find a wide selection of designer goods that range from luxury handbags to clothes, all at very good prices.
To make sure that you get your money’s worth, the Vestiaire team always checks the authenticity of its products and cross checks the prices before putting anything up for sale on their website.
- Reeborn Vintage
Reeborn Vintage is a popular online store that sells high quality designer vintage items in Dubai.
The store follows a strict process in authenticating items before putting them up for sale to make sure that you get good quality designer pieces at the best price.
Reeborn Vintage also has a selection of brand new designer items at lower prices than stores and malls.
The store was founded by Lina Sabry during the pandemic, and it has quickly grown to be one of the top preloved luxury stores in Dubai and the UAE.